Dentistry

HC Deb 10 July 1991 vol 194 cc409-10W

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from learned societies in dentistry and anaethesiology regarding the appropriateness of out-patient general anaesthesia in dental practice outside hospital; if he will place both the representations he has received and his response in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Darrell

The 29 learned bodies listed in the table submitted comments on a report to the standing dental advisory committee by an expert working party in general anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry. The report recommended that, while the use of general anaesthesia should be avoided wherever possible, it should continue to be available outside hospitals, provided certain standards are maintained. This principle was generally endorsed by the learned bodies which commented, as were many of the detailed recommendations.

The report was issued as a consultation document. It is currently being considered in the light of the 138 responses received.

• Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. British Dental Association.
• BDA East Midland Branch.
• BDA—Northern Ireland Office.
• BDA Wessex Branch.
• British Medical Association.
• British Postgraduate Medical Foundation—Institute of Dental Surgery.
• British Paedodontic Society.
• British Society for Dentistry for the Handicapped.
• College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Dental Surgery.
• Dental Sub-Committee of North West Regional Medical Committee.
• General Dental Council.
• General Dental Practioners' Association.
• General Medical Council.
• General Medical Services Committee.
• Joint Consultants Committee.
• King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry. King's College, London.
• National Association of Administrative Dental Officers.
• North Western Administrative Dental Officers Group.
• Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham.
• Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Department of Anaesthetics.
• Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry.
• The Association of Dental Anaesthetists.
• The Royal College of General Practitioners.
• UMDS Guy's Hospital Dental School, Department of Orthodontics and Dentistry for Children.
• University of Manchester, Turner Dental School.
• University of Sheffield, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital.
• University of Wales College of Medicine Dental School.
• Wessex Region Postgraduate Dental Education Committee.